Suture anchor

Abstract

Suture anchors are disclosed having suture locking features able to lock multiple suture ends extending from a body tissue, such as from a bone tunnel, with a single device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A suture anchor comprising:
 an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongated body having:
 a longitudinal passageway extending from the proximal end toward the distal end and defining a longitudinal passageway axis; 
 a first pair of transverse suture receiving passageways extending through a side wall of the elongated body and intersecting the longitudinal passageway toward the proximal end of the elongated body; and 
 a second pair of transverse suture receiving passageways extending through the side wall of the elongated body and intersecting the longitudinal passageway toward the distal end of the elongated body; and 
 at least a first and a second pair of suture strands; and 
 a plunger receivable in the longitudinal passageway in axial sliding relationship, the plunger having a proximal end, a distal end, and a diameter having no reduction from the distal end of the plunger toward the proximal end of the plunger, the plunger being positionable within the longitudinal passageway such that the plunger can be advanced to a first position to secure the first pair of suture strands passing through the first pair of transverse suture receiving passageways, and the plunger can be further advanced to a second position to additionally secure the second pair of suture strands passing through the second pair of transverse suture receiving passageways. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The suture anchor of  claim 1  wherein the first pair of transverse suture receiving passageways are offset relative to one another toward opposite sides of the longitudinal passageway axis and the second pair of transverse suture receiving passageways are offset relative to one another toward opposite sides of the longitudinal passageway axis. 
     
     
       3. The suture anchor of  claim 1  wherein the first pair of transverse suture receiving passageways are offset relative to one another along the longitudinal passageway axis in the proximal to distal direction and the second pair of transverse suture receiving passageways are offset relative to one another along the longitudinal passageway axis in the proximal to distal direction. 
     
     
       4. The suture anchor of  claim 3 , wherein the plunger is moveable in longitudinal sliding relationship along the longitudinal passageway axis, the plunger tapering distally. 
     
     
       5. The suture anchor of  claim 1  wherein the elongated body comprises a generally cylindrical outer wall interrupted by at least one flat surface extending from an opening of at least one of the first pair of transverse suture receiving passageways and the second pair of transverse suture receiving passageways toward the proximal end. 
     
     
       6. The suture anchor of  claim 1  wherein the elongated body comprises an enlarged head formed adjacent the proximal end. 
     
     
       7. A suture anchor construct comprising:
 an anchor having an elongated body extending from a first end to a second end, the elongated body having a longitudinal passageway extending from the first end toward the second end, the longitudinal passageway having an interior sidewall and defining a longitudinal passageway axis, the elongated body having: 
 a first transverse suture receiving passageway extending through a side wall of the elongated body and intersecting the longitudinal passageway; 
 a second transverse suture receiving passageway extending through the side wall of the elongated body and intersecting the longitudinal passageway, the first and second transverse suture receiving passageways being spaced apart along the longitudinal passageway; 
 third and fourth transverse sutures receiving passageways, each extending through the side wall of the elongated body and intersecting the longitudinal passageway, the first and third transverse suture receiving passageways forming a pair of passageways nearer the first end and being offset relative to one another toward opposite sides of the longitudinal passageway axis, the second and fourth transverse suture receiving passageways forming a pair of passageways nearer the second end and being offset relative to one another toward opposite sides of the longitudinal passageway axis; 
 a first suture portion passing through the first transverse suture receiving passageway; 
 a second suture portion passing through the second transverse suture receiving passageway; 
 a third suture portion passing through the third suture transverse suture receiving passageway; 
 a fourth suture portion passing through the fourth transverse suture receiving passageway; and 
 a plunger receivable in the longitudinal passageway in axial translating relationship, the plunger having an outer surface defining a radially-symmetrical cross-sectional shape, the plunger being axially translatable between a first position in which the first suture portion is slidingly received through the first transverse suture receiving passageway and a second position in which the plunger clamps the first suture portion and the second suture portion between the interior sidewall of the longitudinal passageway and the outer surface of the plunger compressing the first suture portion between the interior sidewall of the longitudinal passageway and the outer surface of the plunger to secure the first suture portion; 
 the plunger in the second position clamping both the first and second suture portions between the interior sidewall of the longitudinal passageway and the outer surface of the plunger; and 
 the plunger in the first position separating the first and third suture portions and clamping the first and third suture portions between the interior sidewall of the longitudinal passageway and the outer surface of the plunger on opposite sides of the longitudinal passageway axis, and the plunger in the second position separating the second and fourth suture portions and clamping the second and fourth suture portions between the interior sidewall of the longitudinal passageway and the outer surface of the plunger on opposite sides of the longitudinal passageway axis. 
 
     
     
       8. The suture anchor construct of  claim 7  wherein as the plunger is moved into the second position, the first suture portion does not advance substantially along the longitudinal passageway axis. 
     
     
       9. The suture anchor construct of  claim 7  wherein the plunger comprises an elongated body having at least one longitudinal ridge engageable with the first suture portion. 
     
     
       10. The suture anchor construct of  claim 7  wherein the plunger comprises an elongated body having at least first and second longitudinal ridges engageable with the first and second suture portions respectively.